PRS Archon 100 vs ENGL Fireball 100

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Meeotch

Meeotch

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Gas is striking again and I've recently become interested in the Fireball 100. Clips sound good, and I like the idea of having a great brutal lead channel, no boosts necessary. Also like the mid boost and noise gate features. Always wanted to try an Engl and this seems like a good place to start.

However, I have an Archon 100 that on paper seems pretty damn similar. It's a fairly dark amp IMO, and does brutal with ease when you push the gain on the lead channel. Again no boost needed. I really dig the Archon, and if it's pretty similar to the Fireball then I'll probably pass. But man I want to try an Engl! What do you think?
 
I have an Archon combo that I plug into my 2x12 and 4x12
It's strange- the first 36 hours I was so honeymooning this amp, loved the tone.
I then tried a Grind OD and hated that....but now with no OD connected, I continue to hear something related to the Grind experiment. It's like it accented a freq in my brain and now I can't stand the amp. I gave it another week or so but that annoying freq is bothering the crap out of me.


So I vote Engl
 
Never played the PRS but hear it's awesome. Owned the FB100 & would own one again in heartbeat; AWESOME amp!
 
Cranky - sounds like you need therapy :lol: :LOL: It will be ok, just let the Grind go...

Mike - thanks, I really want to try an Engl and the Fireball seems like a good fit. Simple design and crushing.
 
Haven't played an Archon, but I am thrilled with my FB100. Would replace it in a heartbeat if something happened to it- and that's saying a lot considering I'm pretty frugal these days.
 
Meeotch":jaiqawed said:
It will be ok, just let the Grind go...
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I've bought and flipped like 5 Grinds over the years lol
I hope it stays this time. It completely rules in front of the DMoll. Also liked it in front of the Revv when I had that. Did not like it into the EVH 50w.
 
Well, I guess it's a shit or get off the pot situation. FB100 inbound. :D

Still curious to hear from anyone who has played both amps.
 
I really dig my time with the archon every time I demo it. It has been better and better. I am not a fan of Engl but I have never owned one. The archon DOES need a boost. Although that is something I do not hold against an amp.
 
I've owned both multiple times. They're definitely different enough that having them side by side wouldn't be a bad thing.

Big points go to the Archon for being smallish (for a 100-watter) and having external bias points. It also has a fairly distinctive sound--kind of a Recto/Mark/Marshall-hybrid-type of tone--and is extremely well built. The cleans are also quite nice, if you're into that sort of thing. I like it best boosted.

The Fireball is basically a death-metal amp--dark and evil sounding, with massive low mids and tons of sustain. Engaging the mid boost gives it more snarl and grind, but it's never going to sound like a "British-type" amp. While people complain about the build quality, I've never had an issue with an Engl.

For live use, I'd take the Fireball, thanks to its two master volumes.
 
I’ve owned them booth. 3 different times.
I still own the archon. It’s so killer. I don’t boost it. Just run a graphic EQ In the loop.
Could be my desert island amp. I think it’s how I got it set up maybe my rig?
I run it thru 2 Randall Lynch box 4x12s with super emenince V speakers.
Just sounds massive!!
Fireball is great. But I think the Archon edges it out.
Just my thoughts. :yes:
 
Thanks for the feedback guys, I'll post my impressions once I get some time with both!
 
I’d recommend checking out also the Engl Inferno (Marty Friedman model) if you get a chance. IMO it’s like a better version of the Fireball. Probably my favorite of their current line-up, especially since they discontinued the SE EL34
 
I had an Archon 100, and now have an Archon 25 combo running into a 412. I just finished cab shopping for the amp, and I compared identical V30, and T75 loaded Traynor cabs, and I ended up with the T75s. It is such a good match to that amp. I don't know what you are running your Archon into, but with T75s it is not as dark sounding, and has much better cut.
 
It definitely seems like there are a bunch of amps worth checking out in their lineup. Looking forward to it.

My main cab is the EVH 412 with Greenbacks, but I've got my eye on an Uberkab. Seems like the T75's are a dividing speaker, but yeah good to know and maybe the Ubercab would be a cool match!
 
Meeotch":1pwpcnu7 said:
It definitely seems like there are a bunch of amps worth checking out in their lineup. Looking forward to it.

My main cab is the EVH 412 with Greenbacks, but I've got my eye on an Uberkab. Seems like the T75's are a dividing speaker, but yeah good to know and maybe the Ubercab would be a cool match!
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Uberkab sounds great with the Archon.
 
Archon owner here. I dig mine for sure. Not my favorite amp, but it's one I typically look to for more modern high gain tones. It's similar to a Mesa Rectifier, but I'd describe it as tighter and clearer, more refined, and a little less angry. Plus, love the form factor of the 50w box. Easy to bring this and my EVH 50 to a gig as the only guitarist without breaking my back.
 
Meeotch":3m3hmk0v said:
Thanks for the feedback guys, I'll post my impressions once I get some time with both!
Click to expand...

Looking forward to hearing your thoughts on the Archon vs Fireball!
 
Ok, just got the Fireball and spent a couple hours with it. A/Bed it to the Archon as well as a couple other amps in my collection.

First impression, absolute monster! Lead channel - gain for days, and then some more. A dark amp indeed, but not limiting in the sense that cranking the treble really balances out the tone. Very aggressive voicing, tight and punchy, and easy to play. Quite compressed, but manageable with the gain at lower settings (which doesn't mean low gain hah!) Tons of low end on tap. Very thick sound overall, and above all else absolutely brutal. Great master volume! This amp is pretty much ideal for bedroom jamming.

Even so, the tone was a bit thick for my tastes...then I put an EQ in the loop and wow, it made all the difference. Pull some out in the 250 range, and add a bit more in the 1k - 4k to taste. It makes me wonder if all the players saying they couldn't get it to cut ever tried an EQ in the loop? Really no boundaries with this strategy minus the amp's inherent voicing.

Comparing to the Archon 100 - Overall, these two amps are more similar than different. The Archon is a bit smoother, and a touch less aggressively voiced. Similar amounts of gain (ie over the top if you want), but Fireball has even more and reminded me of the 5153 in that department. I'll give a nod to the Fireball for modern brutality, and a nod to the Archon for a bit better clarity under gain. Both amps are very tight, but with a nod to the Fireball in this department. I found the Fireball's cleans to be excellent - better than a 5153, but nod to the Archon. The Archon has a bit more versatility with two independent EQ's, but the Fireball has the built-in noise gate that worked beautifully. It's too early to decide which one I like better...the Fireball is just fun on a hilarious level. No boost or noise gate needed, tons of saturated, tight riffing to be had at whatever volume you choose. Makes me giggle. Throw an EQ in the loop and you can get a handful of usable tones. I agree it is bordering on the one trick pony, but again there are at least several awesome tones to be found in there, and the clean channel is no slouch.

Now I will say that I A/Bed it to my H&K Triamp Mk3. Not an apples to apples comparison in terms of price, but I have been really curious to compare these two German heads in the high gain department. The Triamp can get very close to the Fireball with some tweaking, and has crazy amounts of features, so it may not make sense to keep both. Anyways enough typing, gonna go back to chugging on the ENGL some more!!
 
Cool, glad you're liking it. Thanks for the follow up! I run mine with treble and mids really high, bass at 5/6 (depth switch off), presence at about 6 , and the mid boost on. I play metal exclusively (extremely stuff), so versatility isn't a concern for me.
 
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